HC Deb 30 June 1980 vol 987 cc1082-3
25. Mr. Nicholas Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will now consider the introduction of charges for admission to museums and galleries so as to preserve standards in times of economic difficulty.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

No, Sir.

Mr. Baker

Will my right hon. Friend not accept at face value the views of the artistic establishment on this one, bearing in mind the success of "The Vikings" exhibition at the British museum, the fact that people generally value what they pay for, and that foreign visitors, to whose museums we make a substantial contribution when we go to their countries, would be prepared to pay? Does not my right hon. Friend see that a system of charging might provide a means by which works of art which might otherwise leave the country can be bought for the British public?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I am sorry that I cannot agree with my hon. Friend, but I am not sorry about the substance of the disagreement. That is a distinction which hon. Gentlemen will immediately see.

We have been round this course before and I do not wish to go round it again. It is open to local museums to charge if they so wish, and it is open to the national museum to charge for special exhibitions—such as "The Vikings" exhibition—if it wishes to do so. It must be left to them. I have no intention of introducing general charges for museums.

Mr. Faulds

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that he will have the total support of the Opposition in opposing the reintroduction of museum charges, which lower attendances and damage the public purposes of museums and galleries?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

That expression of support gives me no reason to change my mind.